The two-day conference took place against a backdrop of increasing violence against sacred spaces. During 2009-2010, there were reports of  104 incidents related to sacred spaces and religious personnel around the world, with some 1,730 people killed and  3,671 wounded. Presentations highlighted various conflict cases in different regions addressing a number of crucial questions:

(1) When did such violence against sacred spaces and personnel begin?

(2) What is the frequency of such attacks?

(3) What forms have such attacks taken?

(4) What have been the consequences of such violence?

(5) How can such violence be addressed? 

The conference had two important outcomes:

* A set of draft academic papers presented at the conference subsequently published as a collection.

The publication can be viewed here

* A knowledge-based policy paper on international protection of religious places and personnel was submitted to ASEAN Secretary General by Prof. Kevin Clements, TODA Secretary General and Prof. Chandra Muzaffar, President of JUST. ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, who participated throughout the conference emphasized that it is important to protect sacred places. Protecting sacred spaces will sustainably mitigate the deadly conflicts based upon religions and beliefs within this region of diversity.